Air Force QB runs option way it was drawn up

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - He's the little guy in the backfield, the one who keeps faking out defenders and leading Air Force to victories.

If Chance Harridge keeps this up, he just might run his team into the national title picture. Not bad for a scrawny high school quarterback no one wanted a few years ago.

"I'll be the first one to tell you, I'm happy to do this," said Harridge, who turned 22 on Wednesday. "To be where I'm from and to be here at this moment is beyond me. I can't explain to you how awesome it is to be in my position."

No. 18 Air Force (6-0) is one of 10 major college unbeatens and takes on another undefeated team in No. 7 Notre Dame (6-0) tonight. A win over the Fighting Irish, and the Falcons will jump right into the Bowl Championship Series mix.

Air Force is off to its best start in four years and ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in three. Harridge, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior, is a big reason why as he's already learned to operate the option as efficiently as former Air Force stars Dee Dowis, Beau Morgan and Mike Thiessen.

"If he continues to progress the way he has done thus far in six games, if he can get better six games from now and next year, I think he'll rank right up there," coach Fisher DeBerry said. "We've had some pretty darn good, productive quarterbacks, and this young man is really on a fast pace right now."

Despite getting little attention out of Houston County High School in Bonaire, Ga., Harridge will be in the national spotlight against the Irish, who are off to their best start in nine years under new coach Tyrone Willingham.

Harridge is tied with Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett as the nation's leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game. And Air Force leads the nation in rushing at 339.2 yards per game - Harridge chips in with 102.5 yards per game.

What a difference a few years make. As a 5-11, 160-pound high school senior, Harridge made second-team all-Middle Georgia. But his size kept major colleges away. He did have offers to run the option at smaller schools, but chose Air Force's Academy Prep School instead.

Harridge caught the attention of Air Force's coaches and played a year on the junior varsity before moving up to second team behind Keith Boyea last season. After Boyea graduated, Harridge got his chance.

"Back in high school, it was kind of tough for me, and then all of a sudden breaking on the national scene is almost like a fairy tale," Harridge said. "It's something I'm thankful to be a part of."

Following his much bigger blockers, Harridge has a knack for making the right cut at the right time. Just ask Navy, which allowed him to score four touchdowns two weeks ago. Last week, in a 52-9 rout of BYU, the Cougars never put a hand on him on two of his four touchdowns.

Willingham is well aware Harridge's exploits.

"He's probably the best in the country at what he does in that style of offense," Willingham said.

"It's like having a running back, quarterback, linebacker in that position. He plays it very aggressively. He plays it very smart. He understands their scheme very well and he leads them in the ways a leader should lead a football team."